They didn’t talk, considering Howard said he arrived Saturday moments before Bryant’s surgery to treat a torn Achilles tendon the Lakers estimate will sideline him for six to nine months.

The circumstances differ, but Howard said he empathizes with Bryant.

Howard suffered a herniated disk in his back with the Orlando Magic last April, and it sidelined him for the remainder of the 2011-12 season. He returned to the court six months following back surgery.

“I know exactly how he feels,” Howard said of Bryant. “When he’s at the top of his game and has a major injury like that, all the questions start to come from everyone on what will he be when he comes back.”

Howard experienced that this season. He is averaging 16.9 points and 12.6 rebounds, his lowest numbers since the 2005-06 campaign. He has nursed a torn labrum in his right shoulder and has admitted he hasn’t maintained the same energy level and explosiveness than in past seasons.

“All that stuff runs through your head,” Howard said. “I can relate to everything he’s feeling right now with the pain, the hurt and wishing he could play.”

Howard had progressed, though, entering Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs and averaged 20.2 points on 67.9 percent shooting in the previous five contests. He also addressed his teammates following Saturday’s practice about overcoming the void stemmed from Bryant’s absence.

Coach Mike D’Antoni also said most of the offense will revolve around Pau Gasol and Howard.

“He’s getting better all the time,” D’Antoni said of Howard. “He’s up to the challenge that he has ahead.”

He has developed a stellar track record for resting players to ensure a healthy roster. But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich downplayed whether Bryant’s injury stemmed from D’Antoni playing him too many minutes.

Bryant, the “Black Mamba,” may be out, but the Lakers signed a player who earned the nickname “Mini Mamba.”

Second-year guard Andrew Goudelock joined the Lakers for however long the season lasts after he spent this past year in D-League stints in Siox Falls and Rio Grande Valley.

The Lakers waived Goudelock during training camp, but he averaged 4.4 points on 37.3 percent shooting mark from 3-point range last year in his rookie season. Goudelock averaged 21.1 points per game this season in the D-League and believes he’ll fit in well in D’Antoni’s offense.

“Teammates said if you don’t shoot, he gets mad,” Goudelock said. “That’s right up my alley.”

Bryant’s injury prompted D’Antoni to alter his rotation, including starting Metta World Peace at small forward and playing seldom-used guards Chris Duhon and Darius Morris.

Guard Steve Nash missed his sixth consecutive game Sunday against San Antonio because of persistent soreness in his right hamstring. D’Antoni said he’s “hoping” Nash will play in the Lakers’ season finale Wednesday against Houston.

Forward Jordan Hill participated in dribbling drills Sunday for the first time since suffering a left hip injury that required surgery in January. He’s also running on a treadmill at 85 percent of his body weight.

Popping off

Call up

Lineup shuffling

Injury update

He said it

D’Antoni on Bryant tweeting he will call at halftime of the Lakers-Spurs game with suggestions: “I’m going to turn my phone off.”

Mark Medina has been the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News since 2012. He also works as a Lakers insider for AM570 and is heard on national radio outlets, including The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Chris Mannix Show, Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Yahoo! Sports Radio and SB Nation Radio. Medina also appears frequently on Spectrum SportsNet and NBC4's "Going Roggin."